Maybin makes Diamond cut

Joost Luiten leads the Lyoness Open in Austria. Picture by Getty ImagesGareth Maybin gave his season a boost when he fired an immaculate second round 68 to head the Irish challenge in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity in Austria.

Ranked 127th in the Race to Dubai standings, the Ballyclare man had missed his last three cuts but a bogey free sffort propelled him to within three shots of the top 10 at Diamond Country Club.

Rookie Alan Dunbar missed the cut by a shot after a 71 but Damien McGrane (73, three under) and David Higgins (72, one under) both made it through to the weekend.

Dutchman Joost Luiten edged into the halfway following a four under par 68.

The 27 year old posted four birdies and two bogeys to reach 11 under, one ahead of Spaniard Eduardo De La Riva (65) Scot Callum Macaulay (66) and Englishman Paul Waring, who had a second successive 67.

Luiten has one European Tour title to his name – the 2011 Iskandar Johor Open – but is well placed to double his tally at Diamond Country Club in Austria.

“I didn’t make as many putts as yesterday but I’m really happy with the score,” he said. “On this course you know you’re going to make a few bogeys, but there are a lot of chances for birdie as well. You just have to try to stay patient and I think I did that well today.

“The greens are great, maybe the best of the season. They’ve had a lot of rain but they’re still probably the best greens we’ve played on this year. They hold the shots going in and they are quick. They’ve done an amazing job here.”

Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez is one of five players at seven under, alongside England’s Tom Lewis, who followed his first round 63 with a 74.

SECOND ROUND SCORES: (71 players including one amateur made the cut at 144 level par)

McGrane on the up in Austria

Tom Lewis returned to form with a bang in Austria. Picture by Getty Images.Damien McGrane shot his fourth successive sub-70 round as England’s Tom Lewis opened with a nine under 63 in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity.

McGrane on the rise in Austria

DamienMcGrane in action in the third round of the Lyoness Open in Austria. Picture: JosLinckens / www.golffile.ieDamienMcGrane made a positive move up the leaderboard but it was a day to forget for GarethMaybin and David Higgins in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity.

Ton up for McGrane

Joost Luiten. Picture by Getty Images.Damien McGrane haiuled himself into the top 100 in the Race to Dubai standings as Joost Luiten held off the challenge of Thomas Björn to claim his second European Tour title at the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity.

Hoey in the mix despite "silly mistakes"

Michael Hoey is in contention in Moscow. icture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ieMichael Hoey insists he must cut out his “silly mistakes” if he’s to capture the M2M Russian Open and his fifth European Tour title.